Developing On-Demand Reading Assessments

Suggestions for Formatting

In constructing assessments, presentation and formatting are important. Type size should be large enough to be easily read, and the text should be arranged in a column format with a wide margin that provides plenty of white space to the right of the reading selection. Where appropriate, graphics, photos, vocabulary, or footnotes should be included to enhance understanding. Use of bold face, italics, underlining, and font selections should be considered to enhance students understanding of directions and introductory material. Suggested Font: Serif fonts such as Palatino, New Century Schoolbook, Times New Roman, etc. Suggested type size: Grades 1-3, 14-16 point Grades 4 & 5, 14 point Grades 6 and above 12 point Suggested text width: 4.5 inches A great deal of information can be gained by formatting an assessment so that students can respond to a selection through margin notes. Margin notes encourage students to become "active" readers, reacting to the text as they experience it. These immediate responses can provide teachers with a wealth of information that might not come out through responses to prompts at the end of the selection. Margin notes could take the form of the categories listed below: Asking questions (about events, characters, meaning of words, or parts that are confusing) Making Extensions (what will happen next or how the selection might end) Drawing Conclusions (showing understanding of literal and implied ideas, reasons for actions of characters, or author's purpose) Evaluating (commenting on the author's craft or the quality of the selection) Many students have little or no experience using margin notes. In order to take advantage of this opportunity to gain assessment information, students should have practice. A teacher would not have to provide pre-formatted selections every time margin notes were practiced. A folded sheet of paper that is placed next to a text could be used by students to record notes as they are reading.